Kirk Johnston is a partner in the Atlanta office of Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP. Kirk focuses his practice in the areas of construction law, general commercial litigation, risk management and transactional services. He has many years of experience representing owners, general contractors, architects, surety companies, and other entities on a wide range of construction projects, including high rises, highways, bridges, and industrial complexes. A significant portion of Kirk’s practice involves claims avoidance through assisting clients in every phase of the construction process, from the negotiation and drafting of construction contracts, advising on proper risk management, to educating clients through day-to-day review of contracts, issues, and project documents. Kirk is a licensed property and casualty insurance adjuster and his experience in the interpretation of insurance policies further aids owners and contractors in catastrophic loss management, litigation and construction-related claims under CGL, professional liability, and builders’ risk policies. Due to Kirk’s construction background and trial experience, coupled with his experience with property and casualty coverage issues, he frequently defends owners and contractors under special appointment by insurance companies in matters involving defective work, delays, and other catastrophic loss cases. Kirk has argued novel issues of insurance law and successfully litigated 100s of catastrophic construction cases before state and federal courts throughout the Southeast.